Századok – 2011

KÖZLEMÉNYEK - J. Nagy László: Az algériai háború és a IV. köztársaság bukása. De Gaulle visszatérése a hatalomba VI/1499

AZ ALGÉRIAI HÁBORÚ ÉS A IV. KÖZTÁRSASÁG BUKÁSA 1523 THE ALGERIAN WAR AND THE FALL OF THE FOURTH REPUBLIC The Return of De Gaulle to Power By László J. Nagy (Summary) The FLN (Front de libération nationale), which directed Algeria's war of independence (1954-1962), intended to internationalize the cause of the war of national liberation, and make it one of the chief problems of international politics, thus forcing both the United States and the Soviet Union to take sides in the conflict. The occasion to do so came in February 1958, when the French air forces bombed the Tunesian village of Sakiet. In order to settle the serious crisis, Washington and London offered to mediate between the parties. This forced Moscow to intervene as well, for the Soviet Union was as unwilling as the United States to open a new front of the Cold War in Algeria. The intervention of the great powers provoked very intensive resistance from the French political elite, especially on the extreme right and among the army officers. The latter, supported by the majority of the European inhabitants, whose number was around one million, took over the power in Algiers on 13 May 1958. France was on the edge of civil war. All political forces, with the exception of the Communists, turned towards Charles de Gaulle. The hero of the Resistance set two conditions: his accession to power should take place within the existing legal framework, that is, in the national assembly, and he should consequently be given unlimited authority for six months in order to reorganise the country's political system and strengthen the executive power. He was accorded both, yet he had to struggle for four further years to end the war and acknowledge the independence of the „most French colony", while preserving there the influence of France. Did he regard the independence of Algeria as unavoidable in 1958? It is probable, although he never admitted it, at least publicly. As a modern conservative politician, however, he did understand that the colonial system could not be maintained any more in its old, classical form.